Cheoy Lee 44 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a used Cheoy Lee 44 means weighing a Robert Perry-designed moderate-displacement cruiser built from the late 1970s to the very early 1980s in either aft- or center-cockpit form. These are heavily built fiberglass boats with teak-planked decks and well-finished interiors, but their age places deck condition and engine layout at the center of any purchase decision. The following guidance draws on documented model characteristics and known issues rather than on any individual listing.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 44 appears in two principal layouts. The center-cockpit model uses a modern two-cabin, two-head plan with the master stateroom aft, a giant fore-and-aft bunk, and a very large nav station in the starboard walk-through. The aft-cockpit version is very open below, with an aft cabin and head to port, an open quarter berth to starboard, and a large outboard-facing nav station. Both place the galley to port with a three-burner stove, oven, and top-loading reefer; some models show only a single sink, the one documented galley complaint. Some forward cabins have an overhead hatch, others do not.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, these boats commonly carry a chartplotter, air conditioning, a freezer, and a washing machine. Often-seen additions include a watermaker, solar, a furling main, bimini, hardtop, dinghy davits, teak decks, and a life raft. The original standard winches were a bit undersized, so upgraded winches are a sensible and frequent improvement. The aft-cockpit engine was originally a Perkins 4-108 or Isuzu 40, while the center-cockpit used an Isuzu under the companionway steps.
What to Inspect
The most documented concern is deck condition: many Cheoy Lee 44s have needed deck replacements due to age, and the teak planking was screwed into the deck, a structure that warrants close survey. In the center-cockpit model, the Isuzu engine was known for producing significant vibration, so run it under load and feel the companionway. Some owners feel that these engines were a bit undersized to really push the boat to weather, a point to weigh against your sailing grounds. Check the galley for the single-sink configuration on some models and confirm hull-to-deck tabbing and liner-free structure remain sound.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in the United States, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), and the United Kingdom. When inspecting a candidate, prioritize: teak deck age and fastening; center-cockpit Isuzu vibration; original winch undersizing; single-sink galley variants; and confirmation of tabbed bulkheads and liner-free hull integrity.
- Verify deck replacement history or budget for it
- Run the engine under load for vibration
- Confirm cockpit layout matches intended use
- Inspect galley sink configuration
- Survey hull and deck tabbing thoroughly
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cheoy Lee 44. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $ 29,900 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $ 94,277 | +215.3% |
| May 26 | 1 | $ 29,900 | -68.3% |
Where they're listed
Cheoy Lee 44 listings appear across 2 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 1 (50.0%), followed by Sint Maarten.
Country view
2 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $ 94,277 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Sint Maarten | $ 29,900 | 1 | 0 | 50.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSY 44 | 44' | $ 55,980 | 42 | 10 |
| Morgan Yachts Morgan 44 | 44' | $ 95,000 | 23 | 8 |
| Swan 44 | 44' | $ 171,645 | 17 | 9 |
| Hylas 44 | 44.17' | $ 99,000 | 13 | 5 |
| Sunbeam 44 | 43.96' | $ 183,088 | 11 | 4 |
| Cheoy Lee 44You are here | — | $ 29,900 | 3 | 1 |